ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 63 



until a Museum has been formed, which is already very valuable, 

 and which is daily increasing. 



" In further pursuance of the objects of their Institution, the 

 Society have now determined to communicate to the public such 

 facts and observations as, having appeared interesting to them, 

 are likely to be interesting to other friends of natural science. 

 They do not profess to make any periodical communication ; but 

 well knowing how desirable it is that persons engaged in similar 

 pursuits should be made acquainted, as early as possible, with 

 what has been done by their fellow-laborers in the fields of science 

 elsewhere, they mean to publish a few pages whenever it appears 

 to them that materials worthy of publication have been put into 

 their possession. In so doing, they propose to exclude entirely 

 all papers of mere theory to confine their communications, as 

 much as possible, to facts and, by abridging papers too long for 

 publication in their original state, to present the facts thus pub- 

 lished, clothed in as few words as are consistent with perspicuous 

 description. 



" Well aware that much leisure and superfluous wealth are not 

 always found in company with an ardent love of science, they 

 mean their proposed publication to be as cheap, and as unosten- 

 tatious, as the nature of the subjects will admit ; so that it need 

 not encroach unnecessarily on the funds of the Society, or of 

 those who may wish to purchase it. In short, they are desirous 

 of contributing their share to the mass of knowledge, as early, 

 in all cases, and with as little show, and as small expense as pos- 

 sible. The present publication will be a specimen of what they 

 propose in future. 



" They invite the lovers of science generally, and particularly 

 all those who are anxious for its encouragement in the United 

 States, to aid in promoting the objects of this Institution, and to 

 encourage the present publication, so long as the contents of it 

 shall prove deserving of public approbation." 



The first half of the first volume was " printed for the Society 

 by D. Heartt;" and the numbers appeared monthly, or nearly 

 so ; but before the close of the year it was found that the demand 

 for this publication was not adequate to pay the expenses of 

 printing. To meet the difficulty in a degree, Mr. Maclure supplied 

 types and a much worn printing press, and afforded facilities at 

 his own house to continue the work. A compositor and a press- 

 man, both young, were employed, and several members of the 



